Exercise device and method of use

ABSTRACT

An exercise device has a negative heel. A left and a right exercise device, mirroring each other, are placed on an exercisers feet. In one method, a heel to toe step, grab &amp; flex sequence is repeated, while wearing a pair of the exercise devices. In another method of exercising, a squat, ballet squat or calf raise is repeated, while wearing a pair of the exercise devices.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/168,409 filed Apr. 10, 2009, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field is exercise equipment, especially exercise shoes.

BACKGROUND

Sandals having a negative heel are known to improve fitness and posture, but combining negative heel technology with an adjunct training method produces surprising and unexpected results.

Sandals having a negative heel are known, but wearers do not benefit from the wearing of the sandals without properly exercising the muscles of the legs and/or tush.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A negative heel exercise device, such as a shoe or an exercise sandal, positioning the heel of the foot lower than the ball of the foot in U.S. Pat. No. D577,882, which issued Oct. 7, 2008 to the inventor of the present invention, may be made of a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, such as EVA. Herein, a negative heel exercise device means a shoe or a sandal positioning the heel of the foot lower than the ball of the foot. An insert of a gel material or softer elastic material may be embedded or adhered to the surface of the copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, such that the heel of the foot and the ball of the foot are both supported on the insert. While EVA provides a sturdy sole, the insert helps to absorb shock and to reduce slippage of the heel and the ball of the foot by increasing the friction between the ball of the foot and the heel of the foot compared to the friction induced by EVA alone, for example. For example, the insert may be made of a silicone rubber or a silicone rubber blend material.

In one method, an exerciser places a pair of negative heel exercise devices on each foot. Then, the exerciser conducts repetitions of the heel to toe grab & flex exercise while wearing the negative heel exercise devices on each foot. Surprisingly, a fitness program that includes the heel to toe grab & flex exercise for at least twenty minutes, more preferably at least thirty minutes, at least two times per week, more preferably at least three times per week, achieve better results than a program omitting the heel to toe grab & flex exercise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a negative heel exercise device.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of a negative heel exercise device.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a negative heel exercise device.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a negative heel exercise device opposite of the view in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of a negative heel exercise device.

FIG. 6 illustrates a rear view of a negative heel exercise device.

FIG. 7 illustrates a partial cutaway view of a top view of a negative heel exercise device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following examples describe a negative heel exercise device and a method for the negative heel exercise device, but the invention is not limited to the specific examples described. Instead, it should be understood that the features in the examples and the methods disclosed are merely illustrative. The claims that eventually issue should be interpreted in light of the specification, but the claims should not be limited by the description and drawings of the examples presented.

In the example of FIG. 1, a top view of a negative heel exercise device has the form of a sandal 10 with a strap 12 including an adjustable buckling device 14 for retaining a foot of an exerciser on the negative heel exercise device. While a left negative heel exercise device is shown, the right negative heel exercise device is a mirror image of the left negative heel exercise device. The sole 11 of the negative heel exercise device of FIG. 1 is made of a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, such as EVA. An insert 16 is embedded and adhered to the surface of the sole 11. The insert 16 is made of a softer, elastic material, such as a silicone rubber or silicone rubber blend material. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the insert 16 may extend from a region 71 in contact with the heel of the exerciser to a region 72 in contact with the ball of the exerciser's foot.

As illustrated in the example of FIG. 2, the sole 11 may have a tread 21 defined by wavy channels 22 formed in the bottom of the sole 11.

As illustrated in the example of FIG. 3, the heel region 71 and the ball region 72 of the sandal 10 may have an incline toward the heel region 71. This is referred to as a negative heel The angle A, which is the angle made between a line drawn from the lowest point of contact of the heel region 71 with the heel of a foot through the lowest point of contact of the ball region 72 with the ball of the same foot and a line drawn along the contact points of the sole 11 with the ground, is greater than zero, more preferably between one degree and ten degrees, more preferably yet between three degrees and seven degrees. In one example, the incline angle A is between 3 and 4 degrees.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the adjustable strap 15 engaged with the buckle 14 of the sandal 10. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrate a front and back view of the sandal 10. A fastener 18 fastens the buckle 14 to an extension 17 extending from the sole 11 of the sandal 10, in FIG. 6, for example.

In one example of a method of using the exercise device, an exerciser places a pair of negative heel exercise devices on each foot. Then, the exerciser conducts repetitions of the following heel to toe grab & flex exercise while wearing the negative heel exercise devices on each foot:

(a) stepping forward with one of the negative heel exercise devices on one of the feet;

(b) placing the one of the negative heel exercise devices down heel first;

(c) rolling the one of the negative heel exercise devices in contact with the ground from the heel to a toe of the first one of the negative heel exercise devices, while stepping forward with the other of the negative heel exercise devices on the other one of the feet;

(d) then, pushing off with the toe of the one of the negative heel exercise devices; and

(e) flexing the calf of the exerciser before placing the other of the negative heel exercise devices down heel first, rolling the other of the negative heel exercise devices in contact with the ground from the heel to a toe of the other of the negative heel exercise devices; and

(f) repeating steps (a) through (e) for at least twenty minutes.

Surprisingly, a fitness program that includes the heel to toe grab & flex exercise sequence for at least twenty minutes, more preferably at least thirty minutes, at least two times per week, more preferably at least three times per week, achieves better results than a program omitting the heel to toe grab & flex exercise steps.

In another method, referred to as a squat, an exerciser wearing a pair of negative heel exercise devices starts with feet substantially parallel to each other and about hip-width apart in a standing position. With weight shifted toward the heel of the exercise devices by the exerciser, the exerciser bends at the knees and waist, sticking out the exerciser's tush beyond the back portion of the heels of the exercise devices. The exerciser bends down until the tush of the exerciser is still higher than the knees but no more than comfortable for the exerciser, without pain. The exerciser then returns to the standing position and squeezes the muscles in the tush, completing one repetition. The exercise continues by repeating the steps for multiple repetitions, such as at least 15 repetitions, repeated slowly, for example. More preferably, at least thirty repetitions are repeated, slowly. Even more preferably, at least forty repetitions are repeated, slowly.

In yet another method, referred to as a ballet squat, the exerciser performs the same steps as in the example of the squat, except the feet are spaced hip-width apart with the toes pointing outwardly at an angle of at least 90%, more preferably 145%, even more preferably 180%.

In still another method, referred to as a calf raise, the exerciser begins in the same standing position as the squat; however, the exerciser squeezes the exerciser's calf muscles while shifting weight from the heels of the exerciser to the balls of the feet of the exerciser and then to the toes of the exerciser, and while raising the heels of the exerciser, reversing the shifting of the weight and lowering the heels to return to the standing position. The exercise continues by repeating the steps for multiple repetitions, such as at least 15 repetitions, repeated slowly, for example. More preferably, at least thirty repetitions are repeated, slowly. Even more preferably, at least forty repetitions are repeated, slowly. In an alternative or additional variation of the calf raise, the feet may be positioned with the toes pointing inwardly or outwardly or a combination of inwardly, straight and/or outwardly for a plurality of repetitions with one or more of the different orientations of the toes.

An exercise program or system may include variations and combinations of the methods described in the detailed description and other exercises. 

1. A method for an exerciser having two feet to use a negative heel exercise device, the method comprising: placing a pair of negative heel exercise devices on each of the two feet of the exerciser; and conducting a plurality of repetitions of the following, while wearing the negative heel exercise devices on each of the two feet of the exerciser: (a) stepping forward with one of the negative heel exercise devices; (b) placing the one of the negative heel exercise devices down heel first; (c) rolling the one of the negative heel exercise devices in contact with the ground from the heel to a toe of the first one of the negative heel exercise devices, while stepping forward with the other of the negative heel exercise devices; (d) then, pushing off with the toe of the one of the negative heel exercise devices; and (e) flexing the calf of the exerciser before placing the other of the negative heel exercise devices down heel first, rolling the other of the negative heel exercise devices in contact with the ground from the heel to a toe of the other of the negative heel exercise devices.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the negative heel exercise device is a negative heel exercise sandal.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of repetitions are continued for at least 20 minutes.
 4. A method of exercising, comprising: placing a pair of negative heel exercise devices on each of the two feet of the exerciser; and starting in a standing position, conducting a plurality of repetitions of the following, while wearing the negative heel exercise devices on each of the two feet of the exerciser: (a) shifting weight toward the heels of the negative heel exercise devices; (b) the exerciser bending at the knees and waist, sticking out the tush beyond the back portion of the heels of the exercise devices, until the tush is just higher than the knees but no more than comfortable for the exerciser, without pain; and (c) returning to a standing position and squeezing the muscles in the tush to complete a single repetition.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein steps (a) through (c) are repeated at least 15 times.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the pair of negative heel exercise devices are positioned substantially parallel to each other.
 7. The method of claim 4, wherein the pair of negative heel exercise devices are positioned such that the toes point outwardly.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the toes point outwardly forming an angle of at least 145 degrees between the pair of negative heel exercise devices.
 9. A method of exercising, comprising: placing a pair of negative heel exercise devices on each of the two feet of the exerciser; and starting in a standing position, conducting a plurality of repetitions of the following, while wearing the negative heel exercise devices on each of the two feet of the exerciser: (a) shifting weight toward the toes of the negative heel exercise devices; (b) squeezing calf muscles of the exerciser, while raising the heels of the exerciser; and (c) reversing the shifting of the weight and lowering the heels to return to the standing position.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method of exercising repeats the steps for at least 15 repetitions.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the negative heel exercise devices are positioned substantially parallel.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the negative heel exercise devices are positioned with the toes pointing inwardly.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the negative heel exercise devices are positioned with the toes pointing outwardly.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of placing includes selecting a negative heel angle between one degree and ten degrees.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the negative heel angle is between 3 degrees and 7 degrees.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the negative heel angle is between 3 degrees and 4 degrees. 